With torrential rains causing massive flooding in Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts, the IRS has decided to make victims’ lives a little less stressful by moving the due date for filing their federal income tax returns.

Just in case you recently landed here from the ice planet of Hoth, the deadline for filing taxes is usually April 15. But in order to give those affected most by the flooding some extra time to get everything back together, the IRS has extended the deadline to May 11 for all residents of Rhode Island except those in Bristol County. The R.I. Division of Taxation has extended the state tax deadline to May 11 for all residents.

In Massachusetts, residents in counties that have been declared federal disaster areas (currently Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties) are being offered similar extensions on their federal and state tax returns.

Additionally, anyone who experienced deductible losses as a result of the flood can choose to list them on their 2009 return or wait until next year.

Of course, most of the people who need this info are probably too busy bucket-brigading their basement right now to go online. So if you know anyone in the flooded areas, please be sure to pass the word along.

IRS will delay April 15 deadline for many in Mass. [Boston.com]

IRS extends tax filing deadline to May 11 [Providence Journal]

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